ME Rev. Stat. tit. 37-B, §701 et seq., Interstate Civil Defense and Disaster Compact,
2001
Title 37-B: DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Chapter 15: INTERSTATE CIVIL DEFENSE AND DISASTER COMPACT
§901. Purpose--Article I
The purpose of this compact is to provide mutual aid among the states in meeting any
emergency or disaster arising from natural or man-made causes, including enemy
invasion, sabotage, subversive acts and direct attack by bombs, shellfire and atomic,
radiological, chemical or bacteriological means and other weapons. The prompt, full and
effective utilization of the resources of this and other states, including such resources as
may be available from the United States Government or any other source, are essential to
the safety, care and welfare of the people in the event of enemy action or other
emergency or disaster. These and other resources, including personnel, equipment or
supplies, shall be incorporated into a plan or plans of mutual aid to be developed among
the agencies responsible for civil emergency preparedness in the states that are parties to
this compact. The directors of civil emergency preparedness agencies of all party states
shall constitute a committee to formulate plans and take all necessary steps for the
implementation of this compact. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§902. Standards; rules--Article II
It shall be the duty of each party state to formulate civil emergency preparedness plans
and programs for application within that state. There shall be frequent consultation
between the representatives of the states and with officials of the United States
Government. The free exchange of information and plans, including inventories of any
materials and equipment available for civil emergency preparedness shall be pursued. In
carrying out civil emergency preparedness plans and programs, the party states shall so
far as possible provide and follow uniform standards, practices and rules, including:
[1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
1. Insignia. Insignia, armbands and any other distinctive articles to designate and
distinguish the different civil emergency preparedness services; [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
2. Blackouts. Blackouts and practice blackouts, air raid drills, mobilization of civil
emergency preparedness forces and other tests and exercises; [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
3. Warnings. Warnings and signals for drills or attacks and the mechanical devices to be
used in connection therewith; [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
4. Screening of lights. The effective screening or extinguishing of all lights and lighting
devices and appliances; [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
5. Suspension of utilities. Shutting off water mains, gas mains, electric power
connections and the suspension of all other utility services; [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
6. Materials and equipment. All materials or equipment used or to be used for civil
emergency preparedness purposes in order to assure that the materials and equipment will
be easily and freely interchangeable when used in or by another party state; [1983, c. 460,
§ 3 (new).]
7. Traffic. The conduct of civilians and the movement and cessation of movement of
pedestrian and vehicular traffic prior, during and subsequent to drills or attacks; [1983, c.
460, § 3 (new).]
8. Public meetings. The safety of public meetings or gatherings; and [1983, c. 460, § 3
(new).]
9. Support units. Mobile support units. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§903. Request for mutual aid--Article III
Any party state requested to render mutual aid shall take the action which is necessary to
provide the resources covered by this compact in accordance with the terms prescribed in
this compact. It is understood that the state rendering aid may withhold resources to the
extent necessary to provide reasonable protection for itself. Each party state shall extend
to the civil emergency preparedness forces of any other party state, while operating
within its state limits under the terms and conditions of this compact, the same powers,
duties, rights, privileges and immunities as if they were performing their duties in the
state in which normally employed, except that the power of arrest shall not be extended
unless specifically authorized by the receiving state. While rendering services in another
state, civil emergency preparedness forces will continue under the command and control
of their regular leaders, but the organizational units will come under the operational
control of the civil emergency preparedness authorities of the state receiving assistance.
[1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§904. Special skills--Article IV
Whenever any person holds a license, certificate or other permit issued by any state
evidencing the meeting of qualifications for professional, mechanical or other skills, that
person may render aid utilizing that skill in any party state to meet an emergency or
disaster. The party state in which the service is rendered shall give recognition to the
license, certificate or other permit as if issued in the state in which aid is rendered. [1983,
c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§905. Liability--Article V
No party state or its officers or employees rendering aid in another state pursuant to this
compact shall be liable on account of any act or omission performed in good faith while
so engaged. Nor shall a party state or its officers or employees be liable on account of
the maintenance or use of any equipment or supplies in connection with rendering aid in
another party state. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§906. Supplementary agreements--Article VI
Inasmuch as it is probable that the pattern and detail of the machinery for mutual aid
among 2 or more states may differ from that appropriate among other states party to the
compact, this instrument contains elements of a broad base common to all states, and
nothing herein contained shall preclude any state from entering into supplementary
agreements with other states. The supplementary agreements may include, but shall not
be limited to, provisions for evacuation and reception of injured and other persons, and
the exchange of medical, fire, police, public utility, reconnaissance, welfare,
transportation and communications personnel, equipment and supplies. [1983, c. 460, § 3
(new).]
§907. Compensation and death benefits--Article VII
Each party state shall provide for the payment of compensation and death benefits to
injured members of the civil emergency preparedness forces of that state and the
representatives of deceased members of those forces in case those members sustain
injuries or are killed while rendering aid pursuant to this compact in the same manner and
on the same terms as if the injury or death were sustained within that state. [1983, c. 460,
§ 3 (new).]
§908. Reimbursement--Article VIII
Any party state rendering aid in another state pursuant to this compact shall be
reimbursed by the party state receiving that aid for any loss or damage to, or expense
incurred in the operation of, any equipment used to answer a request for aid and for the
cost incurred in connection with those requests. Any aiding party state may assume in
whole or in part the loss, damage, expense or other cost, or may loan equipment or donate
the services to the receiving party state without charge or cost. Any 2 or more party
states may enter into supplementary agreements establishing a different allocation of cost
between those states. The United States Government may relieve the party state
receiving aid from any liability and reimburse the party state supplying civil emergency
preparedness forces for the compensation paid to and the transportation, subsistence and
maintenance expenses of those forces while rendering aid or assistance outside the state
and may pay fair and reasonable compensation for the use of the supplies, materials,
equipment or facilities utilized or consumed. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§909. Evacuation--Article IX
Plans for the orderly evacuation and reception of the civilian population as the result of
an emergency or disaster shall be worked out from time to time between representatives
of the party states and the various local civil emergency preparedness areas within them.
Those plans shall include the manner of transporting such evacuees, the number of
evacuees to be received in different areas, the manner in which food, clothing, housing
and medical care will be provided, the registration of the evacuees, the providing of
facilities for the notification of relatives or friends and the forwarding of the evacuees to
other areas or the bringing in of additional materials or supplies. The plans shall provide
that the party state receiving evacuees shall be reimbursed generally for the out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in receiving and caring for those evacuees, for expenditures for
transportation, food, clothing, medicines and medical care and like items. Those
expenditures shall be reimbursed by the party state of which the evacuees are residents or
by the United States Government under plans approved by it. After the termination of the
emergency or disaster, the party state of which the evacuees are resident shall assume the
responsibility for the support or repatriation of the evacuees. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§910. Availability of compact--Article X
This compact may be entered into by any state, territory or possession of the United
States, the District of Columbia and any neighboring foreign country or province or state
thereof. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§911. Participation of federal agency--Article XI
The committee established pursuant to Article I of this compact may request the civil
emergency preparedness agency of the United States Government to act as an
informational and coordinating body under this compact, and representatives of the
United States Government agency may attend meetings of that committee. [1983, c. 460,
§ 3 (new).]
§912. Entry into force--Article XII
This compact shall become operative immediately upon its ratification by any state as
between it and any other state or states which have ratified and shall be subject to
approval by Congress unless prior congressional approval has been given. Duly
authenticated copies of this compact and of any supplementary agreements entered into
shall, at the time of their approval, be deposited with each of the party states and with the
civil emergency preparedness agency and other appropriate agencies of the United States
Government. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]
§913. Withdrawal--Article XIII
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding on each party state until the
legislature or the governor of such party state takes action to withdraw from it. That
action shall not be effective until 30 days after notice has been sent by the governor of the
party state desiring to withdraw to the governors of all other party states. [1983, c. 460, §
3 (new).]
§914. Construction and separability of provisions-- Article XIV
This compact shall be construed to effectuate the purposes stated in Article I. If any
provision of this compact is declared unconstitutional, or its applicability to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact and
the applicability of it to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected. [1983, c.
460, § 3 (new).]
§915. Approval of compact
The Governor may approve the Interstate Civil Defense and Disaster Compact and after
approving it shall cause it to be filed with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State
shall cause certified or exemplified copies of the compact to be forwarded and deposited
with all interested governmental agencies as required by United States Public Law 920,
81st Congress, or with other states, governments or their political subdivisions as may be
necessary or desirable under statutes of this State. [1983, c. 460, § 3 (new).]